Staff Members

Welcome to the Staff at the Center for United States Missions

Rev. Dr. Peter Meier, Executive Director

Prior to joining the Center for US Missions on July 1, 2013, Peter served in the Minnesota South District, LCMS, as Executive Assistant to the President (2005-2006), and Assistant to the President for Missions (2005-2013). He served as Senior Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church and School in Mayer, MN from 1982-2005.

Peter was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Frederick and Helen Meier, October 6, 1956. His parents were Lutheran Educators. He attended Mt. Calvary Lutheran School, Milwaukee Lutheran High School, and Marquette University. Following graduation Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, IL, he received his theological degree and Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1982.

His Doctor of Ministry degree was granted in 2011 by Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana upon completion and successful defense of his dissertation, "Missional Leadership in Lutheran Schools: A Key Component in Lutheran Schools as Mission Outposts."

Peter is married to Kathy, a Special Education teacher at Mayer Lutheran HS; they are blessed with three married children, and two granddaughters. Peter and Kathy enjoy spending time with their family, reading, biking, camping, kayaking and the outdoors. Peter's life verse describes his greatest joy and passion, "Living and sharing the Life that is truly Life," (1 Timothy 6:19).

Rev. Eric Wenger, Director of Mission Coaching

Eric serves as Lead Pastor with RAIZED in Green Bay, WI. He and his wife, Carrie, have four children. They enjoy building relationships through service in their community and by participating in a variety of athletic endeavors. Their family is thankful for the growing mission team in the Green Bay area that is “living all-out with Jesus” together.

The Wenger family was sent to the Green Bay area by Community of Life Lutheran Church-Oregon, WI in August of 2013 to start a RAIZED (missional) community with the vision of their new gathering of disciples forming a church planting church. By God’s grace, the first RAIZED Community grew and has birthed on several occasions. On September 25, 2016, RAIZED was officially launched. The great news is that they are already working on another new mission planting opportunity!

After receiving his BA from Concordia – St. Paul (1993) and his MDiv from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis (1997), Eric has been privileged to grow as a mission leader in multiple settings. He taught theology and coached athletics with Lutheran High School Northwest in Rochester Hills, MI, served with Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Greenville, WI as Associate Pastor focusing on outreach and assimilation, was the Pastor of Discipleship and Growth with Christ Memorial Lutheran Church in Fitchburg, WI, and planted Community of Life where he later became the Lead Pastor.

Eric is passionate about making disciples, multiplying servant leaders, birthing missional communities, and planting churches. He enjoys reading, playing sports, coaching sports, serving as a Mission Coach with the Center for United States Missions, and being part of an adventure. One of his most excited adventures right now is serving as Executive Director with The 2:47 Network, which is a growing church planting network that he co-founded.

Kathy Meier, Coordinator

Kathy began her work at the Center in July 2013, when her husband, Peter, became the executive director of the Center for United States Missions.

Kathy is also an educator, having served most recently as special education teacher at Mayer Lutheran High School in Mayer, Minnesota. She earned her teaching degree from Concordia University, Chicago and her special education degree from Concordia University, St. Paul.

In her spare time, Kathy enjoys camping with the family, kayaking, biking, and visiting her grown children and two granddaughters.

Kathy's personal mission statement, 'Connecting people of all abilities to Jesus,' is a guide for her professional and personal life. She is blessed to work with C4USM and helping to 'multiply the harvest.'

Mil Behnken, Office Manager

Mil is a credentialed educator and resides in Mission Viejo, California . She receiverd her teaching degree from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska.

Before coming to the Center for United States Missions, Mil served as an educator of early elementary children at St. John Lutheran School in Orange, California.

In addition to mission work, Mil enjoys cooking, entertaining and traveling with her husband, Ken.

Mil is very excited to be part of the C4USM team and looks forward to seeing how the Lord will use her to spread HIS word and support the work of missions in the United States. The Center is blessed to have Mil on the ministry team.